Cam hardening machine



NV' 3 1942 H. G. sEAMANs GAM HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l N0v- 3, 1942 H. G. sEAMANs CAM HARDENING MACHINE Filed nec. 28', 1940 a sheets-s116952 IWW, im* VWM N m uw nu .Y @v l nm Q l Uhm km n H ,Nm m- Y .T -l T. .Y m, Us Fm www, ww m 1| :on R NK, wv: L Q ma. ooo-@ ooo QN lmmm Nov. 3, 1942. H, G, SEAMANS 2,301,083

CAM HARDENING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2s, 1940 s SneetsQsheet s l gli 4 7 nventor Cttorneg Patentecl Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED PATENT OF Fior:A

GAM HARDENING MACHINE Harold G. Seamans, Spring Lake, Mich. Application December 28, 194.0, Serial No. 372,127`

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in cam hardening machines by which cams cast integral with cam shafts of ferrous metal are supported between chuck members, rotated thereby, and conveyed through a plurality of gas llames whereby the cams of the shaft are heated, and thereafter conveyed through a spray of cooling fluid such as Water where the cams are cooled from their highly heated state to a temperature below that at which the cams will anneal by further cooling in the atmosphere; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a machine by which cams forming an integral part of ferrous metal cam shafts are automati` cally removed from ways or other support, engaged by suitable chucks, rotated, conveyed through a gas flame, thereafter through a spray of cooling Huid and deposited in a hardened state from the opposite end of the machine from where they were removed from the ways; second, to provide a machine for hardening cams cast integral with cam shafts that will be automatic in its major functions; third, to provide a machine for hardening cams that will uniformly harden cams of cam shafts having a plurality of cams cast integral therewith.

I attain these named objects and such other objects as appear from a perusal of the description thereof` when said description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a vertical side elevation of the entire machine, the view being taken of the left side thereof as of Figure 2, the right side being substantially the same with the exception of the drive chain belt and sprockets therefor.

Figure 2 is a part sectional and elevation view looking from vertical line V, V, in the direction the arrows crossing said line indicate.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the cam-shaft engaging chuck, with the driving sprocket and bearing in which the chuck rotates in crosssection.

Figure 4 is a side view of a cam shaft such as is intended the cams thereon are to be hardened by the machine shown.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cam shaft with a cam thereon in position for heating by llame of gas emitting from the heating burners which are disconnected from their gas supply.

Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the cooling fluid tank located above a plurality of cam shafts wherethey are cooled by sprays of cooling fluid fromthe cooling iluid tank as the lcam shafts are conveyed past the under side of the tank.

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Figure 7 is a plan view ofv one of the stationary cams for withdrawing one of the chucks from engagement with the one end of the cam shafts, and illustrates the cam in the act of withdrawing a plurality comprising four cam shafts.

Throughout the views of the drawings, similar numerals designate similar parts of the mechanism comprising my invention, and referring thereto: l

Numeral I designates the eyebeam girders forming supports for the mechanism of the machine, including platen plate 2 having secured thereto, upwardly extending pedestal brackets 3 rotatably supporting shaft 4to which is secured chain sprocket 5 carrying endless chains 6 to which is secured in spaced apart relation to each other, camshaft engaging chucks 1. Secured to the upper side of the platen plate 2 are upwardly extending brackets 8 supporting rails 9 extending longitudinally of the machine at each of its longer sides, the rails 9 having secured thereto, pedestal brackets I rotatably supporting shafts II and I 2 each shaft having thereon chain sprockets I3 engaged by endless chuck rotating drive chain [4, the rail 9 also having pedestal brackets I supporting the rods I5 by which the burner adjusting brackets and the upper plurality of burners I6 and their gas supply pipes I'I are adjustably supported transversely of the machine and spaced apart to correspond with the spacing between the cams on the cam shaft. Numeral I8 referred to the cooling fluid tank supported at one end by cross-rod I9, and at the opposite end by cross rodv supported by pedestal brackets 22 secured to rails 9 which has upward and inwardly extending brackets 2i. Also secured to the top of the platen .plate 2 are pedestal brackets 23 and to a second like plate pedestal bracket 23 for supporting the lower plurality of burners 24 byrods 26 and 21 connected to the gas supply pipe 25 by which the burners are directly supported and in turn supported by rod 26 supported by brackets 23 at one end of the gas supply pipe and by rod 21 at the other end by brackets 23. In spaced apart relation to brackets 23 and secured to platen plate 28 is also secured brackets 29 supporting rails 9 intermediate their ends at the opposite end of which is rail supporting brackets 39 secured to the platen plate 3l and rotatably supporting drive shaft 32 having secured thereto, chain sprocket 33 for driving the shaft I2 by endless chain belt 34 engaging sprocket I2 secured to the shaft I2, the plate 3| also has pedestal bracketsi 35 secured thereto for rotatably sup- 2 porting shaft 36 to which is secured chain sprockets 31 engaging the endless chuck carrying chain belt 6 at the opposite end of the Inachine from the shaft feed ways 38 that are supported in fixed relation to the girders I by upright pedestal members 39 and brackets 40. Under the cooling fluid tank I8 and below the heated cam shafts being cooled is pan 4I whereby the cooling uid sprayed onto the cam of the cam shaft 42 is caught and drained therefrom by drain pipe 43.

Referring now to Figure 3 which is an enlarged view of one of the cam shaft holding chucks 1; consisting of the shaft engaging head 44, the spindles 45 having thereon the rotating sprocket 45 and collar 41 for engaging the chuck opening cams and secured to the spindles 45 by nut 48. Numeral 49 designates one of the bearings in which the chuck spindles 45 rotate and are supported in the carrier 50 secured to the chain belts 6 and againstiwhich abuts the helical spring I for forcing the chuck head 44 in 'engagement with the end 52 andv end 53 of the cam shaft 42 which is provided with flange 53 bearing blanks 54 and cams 55 and of which the cams are hardened in the machine.

Referring to Figure 5, numerals I5 and 24 illustrate the gas burners in their respective positions in relation to the cam shaft for heating the cams 55 on the cam shaft 42 as it is rotated during the period of heating by the'gas flame from the burners as illustrated by the broken lines 55. Y

Numeral 51 refers to the cams secured to the bars 9 at the lower end of the ways 38 and by which the chucks with their chuck heads 44 are withdrawn from engagement with the ends of the cam shafts, the cams 51 each consisting of a cam bar set at an angle inclining inward at the ends nearest the ways 38 that engages the collar 41 of each chuck at an incline to the axis of the chuck. Numeral 58 refers to the position at which is located similar cams as illustrated in Figure 7 the cams having extending therefrom and secured to the bars 9, bar 59 by which the cams are retained in open position until the cam shaft is carried over the crown of the chain sprockets 31 by the chain belts 5 and chucks thereon which are driven by their Arespective sprockets 5 and 31, which in turn are driven by sprocket chain belt 60 engaging the sprocket 6I secured to the shaft 4 upon which is mounted sprockets 31, the chain also engaging the small sprocket 62 on stub shaft 32.

In Figure 6 is shown a plurality of cam shafts with cams thereon being cooled by cooling fluid from the tank I8 vsupplied with cooling fluid through supply pipe IB in. a continuous spray from end to end of the tank and substantially from end to end of the cam shafts.

In the operation of my cam hardening machine, a plurality of cam shafts are produced from a suitable ferrous metal, and having been produced and such sand and fins that may be on the shafts having been removed, the shafts are placed on the ways 38 of the machine upon which the shafts roll or slide downward to the machine and between one pair of chuck heads 44 carried by chain belts 6 and spread apart by the chuck opening cams 51 secured stationary to rails 9 above bracket 8, and which chuck heads are moved to open position by the collar 41 associated with the chuck head engaging the stationary cams 51 and closed over the ends 'of the cam shaft as the collars leave the'cams 51.` Like cams at the opposite end of the machine and secured to rails 9 engage the collars 41 and move the collar to chuck open position and by the cam bar 59 retain the chuck heads in open position until the chucks have reached beyond the crown of chain sprockets 31 after the cams have been hardened, when the cam shafts will by gravity leave their position between the chuck heads and be deposited on any dock provided. When the chuck heads have engaged the ends of the cam shaft as they leave the chuck opening cams, the cam shafts are carried by the chucks under and in engagement with endless chain belts I4 which rotates the cam shafts as they are carried by the chucks past the cam heating burners where the cams are heated by flame from the burners, and under the cooling fluid issues and floods the heated cams and cools them, and still further past the chuck opening position 58 having chuck open retaining extension bars 59. It is understood that the movement of the chuck carrying the chain belts 6 is uninterrupted and driven by chain belt 60 engaging chain sprocket 6I which is secured to the shaft 4, and driving sprocket B2 secured to stub shaft 32, which is driven by any suitable power means connected thereto.

Having described my present invention, the rights to which I desire to secure are set forth in the claims hereafter enumerated, and I claim:

1. In a cam hardening machine, the combination including a pair of endless chains comprising a conveyer having progressive movement, each chain being carried by rotatable sprocket wheels and having a plurality of cam shaft and engaging chucks in closely spaced apart relation to each other, means for delivering cam shafts to the conveyer, a cam associated with each conveyer chain at one end of the machine for forcing the chucks to open position and engaging the cam shafts at their respective ends, a plurality of gas burners located adjacent the cam shafts for projecting gas flames against cams on the cam shafts, a cooling fluid tank for projecting cooling fluid against the said cams following heating cams by flame from the said burners during movement, a pair of cams for forcing the said chucks to open position after they have been heated and cooled and retaining the said chucks in open position a predetermined duration of time, and a traveling endless chain located above the said conveyer for rotating the cam shafts while they are conveyed past the gas burner and cooling uid tank.

2. In a cam hardening machine, the combination including a pair of endless chains comprising a conveyer, each carried by rotatable sprockets and having a plurality of cam shaft engaging chucks in closely spaced apart relation to each other, a slide way for delivering cam shafts to the conveyer, a cam associated with each conveyer chain for forcing the chucks to open position for engaging the cam shafts, a plurality of gas burners associated with the conveyer for heating cams 0f the cam shafts engaged by the chucks, and a second plurality of gas burners located below the cam shafts engaged by the said chucks, a cooling fluid tank located above the said Cam shafts engaged by the said chucks carried by the said conveyer for projecting cooling fluid against the cam shafts for cooling the cams of the cam shafts heated by llame from the said burners, a second pair of cams for forcing the said chucks to open position after they have been heated and cooled, and retaining the said chucks in open position a predetermined duration of time, and an endless chain carried by a sprocket located above the said conveyer for rotating the cam shafts while the cam shafts are conveyed past the gas burner and the cooling fluid tank.

3. In a cam hardening machine, the combination including a pair of endless chains comprising a conveyer, each carried by rotatable sprockets and having a plurality of cam shaft engaging chucks in closely spaced apart relation to each other, a slide way for delivering cam shafts to the conveyer, a cam associated with each conveyer chain for forcing the chucks to open position for engaging the cam shafts, a plurality of gas burners associated with the conveyer for heating cams of the cam shafts engaged by the chucks, a cooling fluid tank located above the said cam shafts engaged by the said chucks carried by the said conveyer for projecting cooling fluid against the cam shafts for cooling the cams of the cam shafts heated by dame from the said burners, a second pair of cams for forcing the said chucks to open position after they have been heated and cooled, and retaining the said chucks in open position a predetermined duration of time, and an endless chain carried by a rotating sprocket located above the said conveyer for' rotating the cam shafts while they are conveyed past the gas burner and the cooling fluid tank.

4. In a cam hardening machine, the combination including a pair of endless chains in transversely spaced apart relation and comprising a conveyer, each carried by rotatable sprockets and having a plurality of cam shaft end engaging chucks in closely spaced apart relation to each other, a siide way for delivering cam shafts to the conveyer between pairs of said chucks, a carn associated with each conveyer chain at the said ways and with the chucks for forcing the chucks to open position for engaging the cam shaft ends, a plurality of gas burners located above the cani shafts carried by the said chucks carried by the conveyer, a plurality of gas burners located below the cam shafts engaged 3 and carried by the said chucks, a cooling fluid tank located above the said cam shafts engaged by the said chucks carried by the said conveyer for cooling the cams of the cam shafts heated by flame from the said burners, a pair of cams for forcing the said chucks to open position after they have been heated and cooled and retaining the said chucks in open position a predetermined duration of time sufficient to allow removal of the cam shaft from the said chucks, and an endless chain above the said conveyer and cam shafts being hardened and carried by rotating sprocket wheels for rotating the cam shafts while they are conveyed between the gas burner and past the cooling fluid tank.

HAROLD G. SEAMANS. 

